Milwaukee
Family Pool Party
We had an awesome time at our Family Pool Party on August 12! More than 10 families joined us for an evening of swimming and splashing around at Hales Corners Pool.
21st Annual Tom Pipines Golf Outing
On August 16, we hosted our 21st Annual Tom Pipines Golf Outing at Western Lakes Golf Course in Pewaukee! We had a gorgeous, fun day out golfing and a wonderful dinner and program in the evening. We had incredible raffle baskets and auction items to raise money for our life-changing programs and services! A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated, volunteered, and donated.
Respite Day Camp
We continued our Respite Day Camp at our State headquarters during the month of August! On two Wednesdays, middle school and high school students with Down syndrome joined us for a day-long respite camp. In August we practiced reading, talked about social skills and internet safety, took a field trip to Panda Express to work on exchanging money, had an awesome dance party, and more!
Young Leaders Bootcamp
Self-Advocates joined us for a fun month of Young Leaders Bootcamp! This month we continued rehearsing our play and are excited to perform it!
September's theme is Harvest/Healthy Cooking. We’ll be using items from the garden to cook tasty and fresh dishes. This month will grow independent living skills and continue to introduce the self-advocates more to gardening. Bootcamp meets on Tuesday nights at 6pm. Click here to sign up (ages 15+)!
Cooking with the Kiddos
This month at Cooking with the Kiddos we made delicious chicken teriyaki shish kabobs. Cooking with the Kiddos is a fun evening of family bonding, plus a free meal... what could be better? Come cook with us next month!
Motor Skills Playgroup
We again hosted our bi-weekly Motor Skills Playgroup at our State office! This group is a fun chance for children to learn occupational therapy skills in a free environment, while parents enjoy coffee and each other's company. Join us in September to hang out with other families and let your child play!
Young Leaders Academy
Self-Advocates joined us for Young Leaders Academy twice in August. Every class involves a respite activity such as kickball or yoga, and then ends with an hour of employment-readiness curriculum. Self-Advocates are invited to join our class anytime. Come out to Young Leaders Academy in September!
Tween Club
We had our monthly Tween Club again this month. In order to prepare for the new school year, we made our own pencil cases! Parents dropped off their tweens at the State office for a night of crafts, games, and snacks, and then parents got to enjoy a casual night at our Parent's Night Out! Sign up for Tween Club in September.
Parent's Night Out
We hosted our monthly Parent's Night Out at Club Paragon again in August. Join us for next month's Parent's Night Out on September 8!
Family Movie Night
DSAW families came to our State headquarters at the end of August for a slumber party-themed movie night! We watched Beauty and the Beast and enjoyed some snacks!!
Club DSAW
This month at Club DSAW we took a trip to Tee Aire mini golf course in Brookfield! Self-advocates joined us for an afternoon of mini golf, and two of them got a hole in one!! We treated ourselves to custard at Culver's after golfing.
Green Bay
Haircut Fundraiser
We hosted a Haircut Fundraiser for our Awareness Walk on August 6 at HYPE Hair in Green Bay!! We were even featured on WFRV Channel 5 :) Click here to see the news story about our awesome fundraiser.
Awareness Walk
DSAW-Green Bay held our 9th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk on Sunday, August 27! It was a beautiful day (the rain held out just for our event!) with amazing raffles, games, music, a train, and more. Almost 600 people attended the event, and together we colored a beautiful world! THANK YOU to everyone who planned, participated, donated, and volunteered!! We could not have done it without you. Check out the press coverage of the walk!
La Crosse
Holmen Kornfest Parade
Walk royalty Lila Dummer and Sam Malin rode through Holmen in style (pictured right) at the Kornfest Parade on August 19! DSAW families walked in the parade to raise awareness of DSAW and Down syndrome in the community.
Beer by Bike Brigade
On August 19, DSAW-COTH-GLA was spotlighted as the nonprofit group at the Beer By Bike Brigade (BBBB) Ride. A fun-loving group of self-advocates, parents, siblings, grandparents, friends and caregivers united to promote the amazing work DSAW is doing in the Greater La Crosse Area. Heather Coleman, Katie Sue Cavanaugh, and Eliza Levendoski melted the hearts of 300+ riders as they handed out buttons and welcomed riders at Riverside Park. But it was Aaron Hulse who stole the show! He fully participated in the ride, after biking from Onalaska to La Crosse. It was wonderful to see Aaron making new friends and showing off his bike to the BBBB group. He showed everyone it doesn't matter if you have a bike worth $10,000 or $2; it doesn't matter if your bike has 1 wheel, 2 wheels or 3 wheels; it doesn't matter if your bike is red, black, purple, multi-color or rust; and it certainly doesn't matter if you have an extra chromosome.
BBBB riders are very similar to DSAW. They are an eclectic group of people- some are there to socialize, some to meet new people, some to bike, some to drink, some to support local business, some to support local non-profits, and some that just want to see what the hype is about- all coming together to have a good time and support the incredible community we live in! BBBB was so impressed with DSAW-COTH-GLA that they want to throw a pop-up fundraiser for us in November. Stay in the loop by liking Beer by Bike Bridge and Down Syndrome Association of WI-Lacrosse Chapter on Facebook.
Thank you to the Beer By Bike Brigade for spotlighting our organization. A huge THANK YOU to our volunteers/members for joining the ride and being the best darn models for our new shirts. Click this link to order your very own I <3 HOMIES WITH EXTRA CHROMIES shirt.
Parent's (& Family) Night Out
Parents (and kids too!) had a great night at Deerwood Park in Holmen. Our planned Parent's Night Out turned into a Family Pizza Party! Parents got together, and childcare was provided at the park so that parents could enjoy some time relaxing together!
Kenosha/Racine/Walworth
DSAW-KRW hosted a successful Family Zoo Day at the Racine Zoo on August 19! Many people came out to enjoy a gorgeous day at the zoo, games, exciting raffles, crafts, and a lunch catered by Texas Roadhouse.
Chippewa Valley
St. Croix River Valley Supported Families Meeting
At the beginning of August, DSAW state staff traveled up to the St. Croix River Valley coverage area to host an All-Supported Families Meeting for families interested in expanding DSAW's programs and services in the St. Croix River Valley. Attendees enjoyed fraternal support, ate pizza, and got to learn about DSAW! If you're in Pepin, Pierce, Dunn, St. Croix, or Polk county, join our St. Croix River Valley Facebook page to stay connected and up to date on our upcoming events!
Family Pool Party
DSAW-Chippewa Valley also hosted a free Family Pool Party at Wakanda Waterpark in Menomonie! DSAW families came out to splash around at the pool, and rainy weather forecast held out for us!
Central WI (Wausau)
DSAW-Central WI traveled to Amherst for a trip to Peterson Dairy Farm on August 12! Families enjoyed lunch, games, sensory tables, a hay ride, and petting and feeding the farm animals.
Fox Cities
Our Fox Cities chapter hosted a free summer pool party in August. Families joined us at Doyle Park Pool in Little Chute for an afternoon of fun in the sun! Click here to check out a video of the fun!
